[wolfox]

Also consider that different engines are made, well, differently. A no brainer - but the way it treats the oil also depends on how quickly it wears out. IMO, an oil that stays clean is just not doing it's job, or - the engine is extremely efficient and clean burning. I have heard and read in other areas that Civics are just a little tougher on oil, especially if you drive them hard, but I would attribute the fast darkening more to suspended carbon particles. These high strung motors hammer up oil pretty quickly. I had a Subaru, a 95 in fact, that would turn a fresh batch of Mobil-1, though the engine inside was spotless; into black looking goo in a very short time. This car carries a 2.2 liter H-4 EJ-22 block. When the oil started getting heavily loaded with whatever crud this engine just seemed to generate, she would start to consume oil. At about the end of a 7,000 mile stint on oil, she'd eat about 1/4 quart, and quickly. Otherwise, it was a clean-burning engine, no problems, she just dirtied and consumed oil quick,and it was the nature of that little beast. The only way to really tell what's in that oil when it's done is to have an analysis done after you took a sample of the oil. Have a particle count and if possible, a breakdown of what the suspended particles are to get an idea of what's going on.